2024-2025
CKIR and Aalto Startup Center were involved in the Seeds of Bravery programme, which helped Ukraine develop its business capabilities. The programme aimed to help war-torn Ukrainian tech start-ups get back on their feet and enter the European market. In addition to Aalto, the programme involved 10 European innovation centres in, e.g., Poland, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.
Seeds of Bravery was a two-year programme from 2024 to 2025, funded by the Horizon Europe programme. Seeds of Bravery had a budget of €20 million, of which €12 million was distributed as grants to Ukrainian companies and €8 million was earmarked for the costs of experts from business accelerators.
Key results
- €12 million in funding allocated to support innovative startups.
- 2,173 applications were submitted.
- 451 grants were awarded to more than 320 companies.
- The majority of applications were from Ukrainian startups, but the programme also attracted teams from the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and Estonia.
- Most applications were submitted by startups operating in deep tech, infrastructure, education and science, healthcare and life sciences, and agri-food sectors.
- 37 startup success stories were featured in the book “Roots of Innovation: Inspiring Startup Stories”, presented at IT Arena 2025 in Lviv.
Programme timeline: 2024-2025
Contact person: Ilkka Lakaniemi, Henrik Keinonen
Funded by: Horizon Europe